In the Find Something ESL game, students have to find something in the room that matches a given criteria.
1+
5-10 mins
Setup
This game is best played as a class. However, if you have more than about eight students, divide the class into smaller groups to play.
Game
- One student (or the teacher) says “Find something…” then adds a description. The other students have to run and touch an object that matches that description, and shout out the name of the object (e.g. pencil!).
- The descriptions that work best are colours (Find something…blue!) or spelling. Spelling criteria could include the first letter of the word (…that begins with p), the last letter (…that ends in l), or a letter in the word (…that has a c in it).
- The student that touches and shouts out a correct object first gets to give the next criteria, and the game repeats.
- Optionally, you can award a point for the first student each time. The student with the most points at the end wins.
Target Language
The Find Something ESL game is a simple but fun game for beginners. As it is quite active it’s particularly designed for children, but more complex spelling criteria could also work with the right class of older students.
You can use it just as a warmer/time-filler, or to review the alphabet, colours and/or classroom objects vocabulary. If you are teaching a private class to young kids at their house, you could also practise vocabulary for home and furniture.
For a similar game to practise the alphabet without as much movement, try I Spy.
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